Mathematics ACT Aspire Practice Test

How do you convert a decimal to a fraction?

1. Count the number of decimal places and put that many zeros in the denominator

2. Directly use the decimal as the numerator and denominator

3. Multiply the decimal by 100 to get a whole number as numerator

4. Add the decimal places to the numerator

The correct answer is: Count the number of decimal places and put that many zeros in the denominator

To convert a decimal to a fraction, the process involves a clear method. When you count the number of decimal places in a decimal, you can effectively determine how to represent it as a fraction. For example, if you have a decimal like 0.75, you can observe that there are two decimal places. Thus, you can write it as \( \frac{75}{100} \) because 100 has two zeros corresponding to the two decimal places. This fraction can then be simplified, but the initial conversion is rooted in recognizing the number of decimal places. Other approaches in the choices do not properly convert a decimal to a fraction. Simply using the decimal as both the numerator and denominator does not create a valid fraction. Multiplying the decimal by 100 is only feasible for decimals that can be expressed easily, and can lead to an incorrect understanding of how fractions represent parts of a whole. Adding decimal places to the numerator is not a mathematical procedure for conversion, leaving it unclear how that would lead to an accurate fraction representation. Thus, systematically counting the decimal places and adjusting the denominator with zeros is the correct and effective method to convert a decimal into a fraction.